Benefits

Add or remove a dependent from your insurance

You can add or remove a child, spouse, or partner from your health insurance:

During open enrollment

Due to a life event

When it’s required to remove a dependent

If you’re newly eligible for insurance coverage and haven’t yet enrolled, see enroll in a health plan to add a child, spouse, or partner to your plan.

Changes during open enrollment

Each year, you have the option to add or remove dependents from your health coverage during the open enrollment period, which occurs during the entire month of November. Beginning on November 1, you can make changes either by using the PEBB website or by submitting the required paper forms.

Changes made during open enrollment take effect on January 1 of the following year.

Deadline

You must submit all necessary forms and documents to Benefits by November 30 (before close of business). Postmarks aren’t allowed. Forms received after November 30 are considered late and will not be processed.

Online option

To add, remove, or reinstate a dependent online during open enrollment, log into your PEBB member account. If you’ve never logged into your account, you’ll need to register first.

While you can only make changes during open enrollment, you can use the PEBB site at any time to view your insurance enrollment information. The site allows you to print documentation for your records. When you do make a change, the site will instantly confirm your change.

Paper option

To add, remove, or reinstate a dependent using paper forms during open enrollment:

Complete the 2017 Employee Enrollment/Change form (form will be posted on November 1, 2016)

Before the close of business on November 30, submit all necessary documents to the Benefits office

Changes due to a life event

Certain life events allow you to add or remove a dependent from your insurance. When one of these events occurs, you’re allowed a “special open enrollment” period during which you can make changes. Events that qualify include:

Deadline

To change your coverage, you must submit all required forms no later than 60 days after the event occurs. For example, if your spouse loses medical coverage on April 30, you must submit all required forms no later than June 29. Postmarks are not accepted by the state.

Birth and adoption is an exception to the deadline. For those events, the deadline is a full year after the birth or adoption takes place. Coverage begins on the date of birth or adoption, and premiums reflect that date.

When coverage starts

In most cases, the date you submit your forms determines the date your new coverage begins. Coverage generally begins the first day of the month following whichever happens later: the date of the event or the date when you submit the enrollment documents.

Required removal of a dependent from your coverage

You’re required to remove a dependent from your coverage when certain events occur. Events that trigger a loss of eligibility for PEBB coverage include:

Child turns 26 years old

Divorce, annulment, or dissolution of partnership

Death of a dependent

When one of these events occurs, you have 60 days to remove your dependent from coverage. Please note that Washington state automatically ends a child’s coverage effective the last day of the month in which the child turns 26.